Wiring device



March 12, 1957 C. M. SMITH WIRING DEVICE Filed April 21, 1955 WITNESSES INVENTOR Clarence M. Smith ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 WIRlNG DEVICE Clarence M. Smith, Trumbull, Coma, assignor to The Bryant Electric Company, Bridgeport, (Jenn, a corporation of Connecticut Application April 21, 1955, Serial No. 592,793

19 Claims. (Cl. 206-453) My invention relates to electric wiring devices and more particularly to a lever operated switch.

In many industrial products, and particularly those such as household appliances, it is desirable to incorporate certain electrical control functions which operate automatically upon the moving of some particular part of the product, such as the opening of the door of a Washer. Such purposes can best be accomplished by utilizing a lever operated switch which directly engages the moving portion of the product or some other means activated by the moving portion. Heretofore, such lever operated switches have been unsatisfactory in that the actuating lever has had to be engaged in a limited area or with a limited force to function properly, which has entailed the necessity of fitting the moving part with relation to the switch more accurately than is necessary for the proper functioning of the moving part alone. Such prior switches have also been unsatisfactory due to the fact that they have employed various standard fastening ,devices in assembling the switch, which has added materially to their cost. Still other prior switches of this type have required adjustment of the various parts with relation to each other in order to obtain a properly functioning switch, which also has greatly increased the cost of such switches.

Accordingly, one object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lever operated wiring device which is inexpensive to produce.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lever operated wiring device which may be operated upon engagement of the lever over a large area.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lever operated wiring device which may be operated by various forces being applied to the lever.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lever operated wiring device in which all parts are held in their assembled relation by integral means on the various pa ts thereof.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lever operated switch in which a moving contact is secured to a stationary line contact by merely inserting the movable contact under a portion of the line contact so that the line contact is held stationary with relation to the switch housing.

Another more specific object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lever operated switch in which a movable contact is secured to a first stationary contact by merely being forced under a portion thereof and which movable contact has integral means spaced from the first stationary contact which functions automatically upon such insertion of the movable contact so that said movable contact is held in alignment with a second stationary contact spaced from the first stationary contact.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lever operated wiring device in which all parts thereof may be formed by simple forming operations from simply formed blanks.

Another more specific object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lever operated switch having an elongated U-shaped housing with a spring member operating lever for operating the movable contact thereof, which spring member also functions as a cover for the housing.

A still further specific object of my invention is to provide an elongated movable contact connected to a lever operating member in such a way that a large area of the lever may be engaged for operating the movable contact over a wide range of forces applied thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lever operated wiring device having a pair of spaced substantially parallel walls between which a spring member lever may be slid lengthwise thereof and snapped into position without requiring further connection thereto.

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a lever operated switch constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a single pole lever operated switch constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the switch shown in Fig. i with one longitudinal half of the operating lever broken away;

Pig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the switch shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of a double pole switch constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention with a section of the operating lever removed therefrom to show a pair of spaced movable conductors located therein; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a connection utilized in the switch as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that a switch constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention comprises an elongated generally U-shaped housing 2, which may be formed 0 from any suitable material having sufiicient structural strength, as hereinafter described, such as light gauge steel. As will become apparent herein, housing 2 is preferably formed of a flat piece of stock material which is initially punched to form blank which when bent to form housing 2 also provides certain other structural formations. The eight portion of housing 2 and the arms 6 extending upwardly therefrom are each provided with a plurality of integral locating and fastening means for various purposes, as hereinafter described.

elongated recta. (1' contact carrying p which, inasmuch as electr. al contacts are located thereon, is formed of a suitable insulating material such as a phenolic sheet m rial, is located on the inner side of eight portion of housing Bight portion 4 of housing 2 at each end thereof is formed to pro ide a entrally located upwardly extending projection 10 having a length substantial. y equal to the thickness of the material from which plate 8 is formed, so as to define in conjunction with the inner surfaces of arms 6 a rectangt 1r area slightly larger than the plate 3 so as to closely receive the plate therein. Once plate 8 has been so located, each arm 6 at each end thereof is provided with an inwardly extending integral lance E2, the lower edges of which frictionally engage the up er surface of plate 8 whereby plate 3 is securely held against the bight portion 4 of housing 2.

In order to obtain mounting lugs for the switch, each arm 6 of housing 2 is provided with a downwardly extending rectangular plate 14 having a circular opening 16 therein whereby the switch may be removably secured to a supporting member in any suitable'manner, such as by lug screws, not shown, extending therethrough and engaging a supporting member. Openings 16 are in lateral alignment with each other and are on substantially the vertical center line of arms 6. The vertical center line of plates 14 is substantially coincident with the vertical center line of openings 16 and which plates may extend longitudinally a distance approximately of the le .gth of housing 2. Plates 14 may readily be formed by slotting the initial flat sheet blank from which housing 2 is preferably formed, so that the central portion of the bight portion 4 of housing 2 provides the material for plates 14, and so that the undersurface of the central portion of plate 3 is exposed from the underside of housing 2. By so exposing the central portion of plate 8, only the end portions of bight portion 4 extend between arms 6 of housing 2, each of which end portions are provided with a rectangular opening 18 for receiving the upper portion of electrical terminals a and 28]) therein. In order to reduce the cost of my switch, the electrical terminals 2 3a and 20b extending through openings 18 are initially formed in an identical manner. However, as hereinafter described, terminal 20a differs from terminal Ziib, and accordingly, the postscripts a and b have been utilized to distinguish the terminals.

Terminals Zila and 2012 are formed from any suitable electrical conducting material which may readily be formed as described herein, such as copper or brass. As previously described with relation to housing 2, terminals 20a and 20b have been designed so as to be readily formable from fiat sheet blanks. Each of the terminals 20a and 2012 comprises a generally U-shaped upper body having a bight portion 22 and downwardly extending identically formed arms 24. One arm 24 of each of the terminals Zila and 20b is longer than the other to provide an elongated downwardly extending rectangular blade extension 26, whereby terminals Zita and 2% may be electrically energized in any well known suitable manner. In order to permit the bight portion 22 of terminals 29:: and 20b to extend upwardly between the arms a of housing 2 above the upper surface of plate 8, plate 8 is provided adjacent each of its ends with a rectangular opening 28, which is located approximately centrally with relation to the opening 18 in the bight portion 4 of housing 2 therebelow. Openings 28 are formed so as to closely receive the upper part of arms 24 therein so that the arms 24 are located substantially parallel to the arms 6 of housing 2. It will be noted, however, that each lower portion of each arm 24 at each side thereof is provided with an outwardly extending projection 3% which engages the undersurface of plate 8 adjacent openings 28 thereof to limit the distance that the upper portion of terminals Zita and 20b may be inserted therein. As will become apparent hereinafter, projections 34) on arms 24 are located with respect to the undersurface of the bight portion 22 so that such undersurface is located a distance above the upper surface of plate 8 which is somewhat less than the thickness of the material from which a hereinafter described conductor 40 is fabricated. Further, the bight portion 22 of each of the terminals 2th: and Zilb is provided at each side thereof with a pair of spaced upwardly extending projections 32. In order to utilize a simple blankform for terminals 20:: and 2%, each side of bight portion 22 is offset inwardly of the sides of arms 24 so that in the flat blank form for the terminals, the outer ends of projections 32 do not exceed the width of material required at the projections 36. The bight portion 22 of each of terminals 26a and 2% is also provided with a central circular opening 34. Terminal 20b is provided with an electrical contact 38 which may be formed of any suitable electrical conducting and arc resistant material, such as silver or any alloy thereof. and is secured to the opening 28 through which terminal 20a extends.

terminal 2% in any suitable manner, such as by having an integral portion thereof extending through opening 34 so it may be riveted thereto.

in fabricating my switch the upper portion of terminal 22b is placed within either one of the openings 23 in plate 8, and the subassembly comprising terminal 29b and plate 3 may then be placed in a suitable fixture whereby contact 38 is riveted to the bight portion 22 of the terminal 2%, and the projections 32 are bent outwardly over the upper surface of plate 8 to clamp the terminal 29b to plate 3 betv een the projections 32 and the projections 30. Thereafter, plate 8 with the terminal 2% secured thereto may be placed as indicated in housing 2 with the blade 26 thereof extending through one of the openings 18 in bight portion 4 of housing 2. With relation to the construction of housing 2, plate 5, and terminals 20a and 2% heretofore described, it is immaterial in which opening terminal 23a is located; however, once terminal 20b is located as described, the description hereinafter is limited with respect to the location of the other component parts of the switch. Thus, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that terminal 2% is located at the right end of housing 2 and the terminal 2% is located at the left end of housing 2. Terminal 29a is located in the other opening 28 of plate 8 in the same manner as terminal 2%; however, projections 32 are not utilized for securing it thereto, and accordingly, projections 32 are left to extend upwardly between the arms 6 of housing 2.

As shown, terminals Zila and 29b are electrically connectable by means of a flexible resilient conductor 40, which may be formed of any suitable electrical conducting material having sufiicient resiliency, such as a copper alloy. The configuration of conductor 40 is preferably such that it may initially be formed from an elongated rectangular blank which may be blanked, pierced and formed as hereinafter described in a single operation. As shown, a circular upwardly extending detent 42 is provided integral with the conductor adjacent its right end. In assembling the switch, terminal 20a is initially inserted through the other opening 28 of plate 8 so that the projections 30 on its arms 24 engaged the undersurface of plate 8 adjacent the opening 2 Thereafter, conductor 4th is held at an angle to plate 8 and its extreme right end is inserted in the opening between the bight portion 22 of terminal Zila and plate 8 so that it enters Conductor 40 is then slightly rotated counterclockwise into the housing 2 so that its extreme right end is located adjacent the inner surface of plate 8. Thereafter, conductor 40 is forced rightwardly below the bight portion 22 of terminal 20a so that its extreme right end slips upwardly past the right edge of opening 215 and engages the upper surface of plate 8 on the other side of terminal 20a. In order to facilitate locating conductor 49 below the bight portion 22 of terminal 29a, the extreme right end of conductor 4%) may be formed with an upwardly extending flange 45 which prior to such rightwardly forcing of the conductor 46 engages the right edge of opening 2% in plate 8, and thereby functions so as to cam the right end of conductor 40 upwardly when such rightwardly force is applied thereto. As the undersurface of the bight portion 22 of terminal 26a is located above the upper surface of plate 8 a distance slightly less than the thickness of conductor 46, the portion of conductor to under the bight portion 22 of terminal 29a is stressed during such forcing of the right end portion of the conductor 49 below the bight portion 22 of terminal 26a, and accordingly when the detent 42 is in alignment with the opening 34 therein, it snaps upwardly into opening 34 and partially releases the stress upon the right end of conductor 40. In order to guide the right end portion of conductor it? during such forcing operation, arms 24 of terminal Zita are closely adjacent the sides of conductor {iti so that the central detent 42 is substantially in longitudinal alignment with the central opening 34 in terminal 200. By properdesigncf opening 28, it will be ap preciated that the right end portion of conductor 40 will be flexed downwardly within the opening 28 by the sides of the bight portion 22 of terminal a during such assembly process, so that when the detent 42 enters the opening 34-, a suiiicient upwardly directed spring force is exerted by the right end portion of conductor to securely hold the terminal 2th; to the plate 8. Also, when conductor 49 is so secured in housing 2 the left end there? of, when free, extends upwardly above plate 8 so as to be located in approximately the same plane the n lever 54] hereinafter described. Although terminals 231; and 2% may be inserted with either of their arms 24 being adjacent either of the arms 6 of housing 2, they are preferably inserted so that the blades 26 are in longitudinal alignment to facilitate making electrical connections thereto.

Plate 8 is also provided with a rectangular opening 44 on its longitudinal center line which is spaced inwardly of terminal 20:: so as to be located in the portion of plate 8 which is exposed from the underside clue to the formation of plates 14. Conductor ll) is provided with a downwardly extending integral projection 46 which is preferably formed by being pierced therefrom and has a lateral width so as to be closely received in opening 44. Projection 46 is centrally located on the conductor 4t) and is longitudinally spaced inwardly from detent 42 so that when the conductor ll? is assembled to terminal Ella, as previously described, the projection 46 engages the opening simultaneously with the engagement of the detent 42 in opening By so locating projection 46 and detent 52. the conductor 40 may easily be located centrally between the arms 6 of housing 2. As shown, conductor ll is bent at a point inwardly of but adjacent terminal 2 9a so that it extends angularly upwardly from plate 8 between arms 6 of housing 2, and so that a portion thereof adjacent its left end is located above contact 38 and outwardly of the position shown in Fig. 1. With such a construction the insertion of conductor 48, as indicated, is facilitated by locating projection 46 on the upwardly extending portion of conductor 48 so that it engages opening with a snap action due to the resilienc of the material of conductor 40 and so that projection as is not bent during such assembly process by en aging the upper surface of plate d. In order to provide a movable contact for electrically engaging the stationary contact 38, a contact as, which may be of a similar material to that of contact 38, is secured to operating member 4b in a manner similar to that in which contact 38 is secure to terminal Ebb. it will be appreciated that contact 43 is preferably secured to conductor 4% prior to the locating of conductor ll within the housing 2. it is, of course, obvious that contact 48 must be located on conductor ill so that upon the depression of conductor 49, contact d3 engages contact 38 in order to have a properly functioning switch.

The entire assembly within the housing 2 is adapted to be covered by an elongated rectangular operating lever till which extends between arms 6 of housing 2 substantially the entire length thereof and outwardly beyond at the end at which terminal 2%!) is located. As herein described, lever is utilized to force conductor 40 downwardly so that contact thereon engages contact 3 and in order that lever Sll may be operable in response to a wide range of operating pressures, it is preferably constructed from a highly flexible and resilient material which has sufficient rigidity so as to be operable substantially as a cantilever beam such as li ht gauge spring steel. in order to provide inexpensive means for rapidly assembling lever St) to housing 2, the end of each arm 6 of housing 2 approximately above terminal 29a is provided with three laterally inwardly extending projections 52, S3 and which are longitudinally spaced from each other and which are preferably formed by punching the material of side walls 6 laterally inwardly thereof. As shown, projections 53 are laterally opposed from each other between the respective projections 52 and 54 and are substantially in alinement with the inner edge of terminal 20a. Projections 53 may have any suitable configuration so that their under surface is engageable with the upper surface of lever 56 and are preferably provided with a lower surface which is perpendicular to arms 6. Projections 52 and 54 are in lateral alinement with each other, respectively, and may also have a suitable configuration so that their upper surfaces may engage the lower surface of lever 53 and are preferably perpendicular to arms 6. In order to permit lever 5b to pass therebetween, the upper surfaces of projections 52 and 54 are spaced vertically below the lower surface of projections 53 a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the material from which lever 56 is fabricated. As projections 52, 53 and 54 re spaced longitudinally, their opposed vertical surfaces may be spaced a distance slightly less than the thickness of the material from which lever 5b is fabricated to stress lever 5% into engagement therewith similar to the manner the right end of conductor 40 is stressed by the right portion 22 of terminal 29a. it will also be noted that the right end of lever 56 has a lateral width so as to be closely received between the arms 6 of housing 2 and with each side thereof being provided with a pair of oppositely facing longitudinally extending inwardly projecting lances 56 and 58 with their opposed free ends being longitudinally spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the longitudinal distance between the outer sides of projections 52 and 54, so as to be in engagement therewith. Lever 59 is reduced in its lateral wi th beyond the innermost lance 56 in order to permit its sides to move freely between the arms 6 of housing 2. Each arm 6 of housing 2 is also provided with another projection 60 at its extreme left end which extends over the upper surface of lever 50 and prevents the left end of lever 50 from being deflected upwardly beyond the arms 6 of housing 2. in assembling lever 50 to housing 2, the right end is inserted between the side walls 6 of housing 2 so that it is located below the opposed projections 53 and above the opposed projections 52. Lever St) is then rotated into the housing 2 so that its under surface to the left of its right end engages the upper surface of opposed projections 60. Thereafter, lever is manually forced rightwardly so that the lances 53 ride over the upper surface of projections 52. Lever 5!?" is also provided with a notch 62 at each of its sides so as to form a pair of opposed notches, so that when lever 5b is located with notches 62 opposite lugs 5d, lever 56 may be further rotated into housing 2 so that its upper surface is located below the lower surface of projections es. Lever 56) is then pushed further rightwardly so that lances t ride over the opposed projections 54, until the free end of lances engage the leftwardly facing surfaces of projections 52 whereby further rightward movement of lever 51) is prevented. At the same time, notches 62 pass rightwardly between side walls 6 of housing 2 inwardly beyond projections 6t? .so that the under surfaces of projections 64? engage the upper surface of lever 59 to the right of notches 62. if desired, in order to facilitate such longitudinal movement of lever the extreme right end of lever 58 may be provided with an angularly upwardly extending flange 64 which will en age the projections 54 to i ally cam the right end of lever 5t) over rojections 54. Thus, the right end of lever is securely held between the arms 6 of housing 2 by the triumvirate supports 52, 53 and S4 at each side thereof so that lever 5t; will function substantially as a cantilever beam by deflecting the left end of lever around such triumvirate support. Furthermore, lever Se is locked in position by the engagement of the free ends of projections 56 and 53 with the outwardly facing surfaces or projections 52 and 54 so that the lever 59 cannot be pushed or pulled longitudinally within the housing 2. if desired, the extreme left end of lever 5d beyond housing 2 may be enlarged to the same lateral size as the extreme right end in order to increase the area 7 which may be engaged by an activating member without increasing the size of blank required for the lever 50.

Lever 50 is also provided with a centrally located opening 66 which when lever 50 is finally located between arms 6 of housing 2, as described, is in vertical alinement with a similar opening 68 in conductor 49. A flat rectangular connector 79 having a pair of centrally vertically alined projections 72 is located between the conductor 4i and the lever 50 so that the upper projection 72 enters the opening 66 of lever 50 and the lower projection 72 enters the opening es in conductor 40, so that connector 70 is spring biased by the upward force of conductor 49 into engagement with the lever 54). In order to electrically isolate conductor 44? from lever 5i), connector 70 is fabricated from any suitable insulating material, such as a phenolic insulating material, which may readily be formed as described. As connector 713 preferably has a rectangular body, the extreme left end of conductor 4 will be substantially parallel to both the lever 50 and plate 8 when the connector 753 is located between the conductor 4i? and lever 56 and when no external force is applied to lever 56, whereby a direct force may be transmitted from the lever Stl to the conductor 40 by the shoulders on connector 70 adjacent the projections 72 engaging the under surface of lever 59 and the upper surface of conductor 4%. Connector 76 may be easily inserted as described by manually depressing conductor 40 and placing one of the projections 72 in opening 68 therein, and permitting connector '76 to be supported upon conductor 40 by the engagement of its shoulders adjacent the projection 72 engaging the upper surface of conductor 4d. Thereafter, conductor 49 may be released and the upper projection 72 on connector 70 is inserted in the opening 66 in lever 51 A simpler method of assembling connector 76 is to initially insert one of the projections 72 in opening 68 of conductor 40 before lever 50 is assembled, as previously described. During L13 period lever 50 is moved rightwardly the upper projection 72 on connector 70 engages the lower surface of lever 59 so as to depress conductor 40 until the upper projection 72 of connector 70 is in alinement with the opening 66 in lever 50, at which time conductor 49 will spring bias the connector 7t upwardly and into opening 66, as previously described.

In operation, the switch is located as described so that some mechanical means, not shown, such as a simple linear displacement plunger, is capable of engaging the free left end of lever 56 which extends beyond housing 2 and depresses it a suflicient distance to cause contact 43 to engage contact 38. When such mechanical means engages the free left end of lever 56, it will cause lever 50 to deflect downwardly substantially around the opposed projections 52 in arms 6 as a cantilever beam. As lever 50 is depressed, connector 79 is also depressed proportionately with reference to displacement of a point on a cantilever beam so as to cause conductor 40 to be depressed around its fiat right end portion in engagement with plate 8. The depression of conductor 40 in turn causes contact 48 to engage contact 38 whereby terminal b is connected to terminal 2-0:: by means of the conductor 4b. In view of the large area of the free end of lever 50, and as lever 54) is, in effect, a simple cantilever beam, the activating force can be applied at any point leftwardly beyond the projections 52. If desired, the extreme left end of lever 50 may be curved downwardly at 74 in order to obtain an area which may be engaged by an activating force which is operating at an angle to the longitudinal center line of housing 2. It will also be noted that with such construction the force applied to lever 59 mayvary over a range, as once contact 48 engages contact 38, conductor to will no longer be rotated around its right end. but will be rotated around the left portion thereof with contacts 48, 38, constituting the fixed point. Further downward deflection of lever 56 will cause the left end of conductor 4i) leftwardly beyond contact 48 to be depressed until the lower projection 72 on iii) edema? connector 70 engages the upper surface of plate 8 to the left of terminal 2%. Still further force can be applied to the lever 59 without causing any damage to the switch, as when projection 72 so engages plate 8 the left end of lever 50 will then be supported as a simple cantilever beam by the connector 70. Further depression of lever 50 will merely cause the extreme left end of lever 50 beyond connector 70 to be deflected downwardly. Such activating force is limited only by the material from which lever 50 is fabricated, inasmuch as lever 50 should not be depressed so as to cause a permanent set to occur therein.

Fig. 4 illustrates a double pole switch constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention which is identical to the single pole switch previously described in many details and, accordingly, like parts have been given the same reference numerals. Other parts of this embodiment of my invention which are similar to previously described parts have been given the same reference numeral primed as such previously described parts. In this embodiment two laterally spaced conductors are utilized in exactly the same manner as previously described. In order to accommodate two conductors 40, plate 3 is laterally enlarged and, accordingly, bight portion 4 of housing 2 and lever are also laterally enlarged so that they may function in the same manner as previously described. Each conductor 40 is cooperable with separate terminals 20a and 20b as also previously described. As shown in Fig. 5, the connector 80 for activating both conductors 40 simultaneously is similar in purpose to and is formed from the same material as the connector previously described. Connector is provided with a pair of spaced projections 72 which extend upwardly from the straight upper surface 86. Obviously, lever 50' must be provided with a pair of laterally spaced openings (not shown) similar to opening 66, previously described, for receiving the laterally spaced projections 72 on connector 80. Connector 80 is provided with a pair of spaced projections 82 which extend outwardly from its lower edge and are in alinement with the upper projections 72. Projections 82' are engageable with the openings 68 in the left end of conductors 40 and are provided for the same purpose as the lower projection 72 on connector 70 previously described. It will be noted, however, that the lower surface 84 of connector so is curved so that regardless of the point of application of the deflecting force to lever St), the contacts 48 in each of the conductors 40 will simultaneously engage the con tacts 33 in the terminals Ztlb. Thus, rather than the portion of connector 76 at each side of the lower projection 72 engaging the upper surface of conductor 40 as previously described, the upper surface of the spaced conductors 49 will be engaged by the curved lower surface 34- between the lower projections 82 on connector 8i). As only the adjacent sides of conductors 44} are engaged by the surface 34 on connector so, any force which is applied to the lever 56 which is ofi center thereof will cause the lever so to tilt transversely about its longitudinal axis. As the upper surface 86 is located in engagement with the lower surface of lever 58' such tilting of lever 50' causes the connector 86 to tilt therewith so that its lower surface 84 slides between the conductors 4b to maintain engagement therewith at all times. Such a construction permits a symmetrical flexible lever 58' to be used without requiring the addition of special lugs or adjustments to assure closure of both contacts. Inasmuch as the operation, construction and assembly of such a double pole switch is otherwise substantially identical to the single pole switch previously described, further description is not believed to be necessary. it is also believed obvious that additional conductors 4% may be similarly supported on a still larger plate similar to plate 8.

By this construction, it will be noted that the switch comprises a plurality of separate parts which may be formed by simple and rapid shop procedures, and which parts are adapted to be rapidly assembled together without requiring further adjustment or any fastening means other than those formed integral with the separate parts. Such simple component parts and ease of assembly considerably reduce the material and labor costs of such a switch. Further, it will be noted that the activating force may be applied at a number of locations and that such force may vary in magnitude without causing damage to the switch.

Although I have shown and described particular modifications of my invention in accordance with the patent statutes, 1 am aware that other modifications thereof are possible without departing from the broad spirit and scope of my invention. Accordingly, it is desired that my invention be not restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art.

l claim as my invention:

1. An electrical wiring device comprising, a housing having a pair of spaced substantially parallel side walls, an elongated resilient operating lever, supporting means for said lever on each of said side walls comprising, a laterally inwardly extending first projection and a laterally inwardly extending second projection having a surface spaced from an opposed surface on said first projection so as to form an opening therebetween approximately equal to the thickness of at least one portion of said lever; said one portion of said lever having a width so as to be insertable in said opening between said first and second projections of each of said supporting mean-s simultaneously, means on said one portion of said lever responsive to such insert-ion to automatic-ally locl; said lever longitudinally in a predetermined position with respect to said housing so that said one portion is secured to said side walls and so that portions of said leve' remote from said one portion are movable with respect thereto, and means supported bysaid housing responsive to movement of said remote portions of said lever for controlling a electric circuit.

2. An electrical wiring device comprising, a housing having a pair of spaced substantially parallel side walls, an elongated resilient operating lever, laterally aligned supporting means on each of said side walls comprising, a pair of longitudinally aligned spaced laterally inwardly extending first projections and a laterally inwardly extending second projection between but out of longitudinal alignment with said first projections an amount approximately equal to the thickness of vs.id lever so as to form an opening for receiving the lever, least one end of said lever having a lateral width so as to b insertable in said opening between said first and second projections of each of said supporting means simultaneously, at least one side of said one end of said lever having a pair of longitudinally oppositely extending lances which extend outward from said lever on the same side that engages said first projections and the free ends of which are longitudinally spaced a distance equal to the spacing of opposed sides of said first projections so that said free ends engage said opposed sides of one of said pair of first projections upon such insertion of said lever to prevent further movement of said lever in the plane of said openings with respect to said housing, and means supported by said housing responsive to movement of said other end of said lever for controlling an electric circuit.

3. An electric switch comprising, an elongated support having a base and opposed side walls, an elongated resilient switch operating member adapted to be mounted between said Walls, at least one of said walls having inwardly extending projections spaced apart laterally of said Walls to define an opening of a size to closely receive one end of said operating member when the latter is inserted in said opening by longitudinal movement thereof, means for securing the operating member against further longitudinal movement after its aforesaid one end has been inserted in said open-ing, and separable contacts mounted on said base at least one of which is 10 movable in response to deflection of the operating member into and out of engagement with the other.

4. An electrical wiring ice comprising, a housing having a pair of elongated "ced substantially parallel side we. s, an elongated resilient operating lever extending between said side walls and having one end fixedly secured to said side Walls by longitudinal movement thereof with respect to said side walls, at least one of said side walls having a laterally inwardly extending projection longitudinally spaced toward the other end of said lever bstantial from said one end, said lever having anopen sided notch therein at its side adjacent said one side wall, said notch being of a size and being on said lever at a location so that said lever may be initially inserted between said side walls before such longitudinal movement of said lever occurs with said notch and said projection being in alignment with each other, said projection having a surface engageable with one of the surfaces of said lever upon such longitudinal movement thereof so that said lever is restrained from movement in one direction with respect to said housing, and means supported by said housing responsive to movement of said other end of said lever in the other direction with respect to said housing for controlling an electric circuit.

5. An electrical wiring device comprising, a support of insulating material having an opening therein, an electrical terminal having a pair of spaced arms and a crosspiece for connecting said arms together, said opening having a configuration so that the connected por-ticns of said arms of said terminal may be non-rotatably received therein from one side of said support, means on said arms engagcable with said one side of said support for limiting insertion thereof with said crosspiece extending substantially parallel to and a distance slightly beyond the other side of said support, a resilient elongated electrical conductor having at least one end of a thickness slightly greater than said distance and of a width so as to be received between said arms, at least one side of said crcsspiece being spaced inwardly from the side of said opening adjacent thereto so that said one end of said conductor may be initially freely located in said opening at said one side of the crosspiece, with the other end of said conductor spaced above said other side of said support, said conductor having sufficient resiliency so that said one end may be longitudinally forced across said opening beneath said crosspicce in engagement with the other side of said support, so as to bias said crosspiece of said terminal away from the other side of said support, electrical contact means secured to said support so as to be engageable with said conductor upon movement of its other end, and means secured to said support for moving the other end of said connector.

6. An electrical wiring device comprising, a support of insulating material having an opening therein, an electrical terminal having a pair of spaced arms and a crosspiece for connecting said arms together, said opening having a configuration so that the connected portions of said arms of said terminal may be non-rotatably received therein from one side of said support, means on said arms engageable with said one side of said support for limiting insertion thereof with said crosspiece extending substantially parallel to and a distance slightly beyond the other side of said support, a resilient elongated electrical conductor having at least one end of a thickness slightly greater than said distance and of a width so as to be received between said arms, at least one side of said crosspiece being spaced inwardly from the side of said opening adjacent thereto so that said one end of said conductor may be initially freely located in said opening at said one side of the crosspiece, with the other end of said conductor spaced above said other side of said support, said conductor having snflicient resiliency so that said one end may be longitudinally forced across said opening beneath said crosspiece in engagement with the other side of said support, so as to bias said cross- 1 piece of said terminal away from the other side of said support, said one end of said conductor having a flange extending angularly outwardly therefrom at its free end to facilitate said forcing of the conductor, electrical contact means secured to said support so as to be engageable with said conductor upon movement of its other end, and means secured to said support for moving the other end of said connector.

7. An electrical wiring device comprising, a support of insulating material having an opening therein, an electrical terminal having a pair of spaced arms and a crosspiece for connecting said arms together, said opening having a configuration so that the connected portions of said arms of said terminal may be non-rotatably received therein from one side of said support, means on said arms engageable with said one side of said support for limiting insertion thereof with said crosspiece extending substantially parallel to and a distance slightly beyond the other side of said support, a resilient elongated electrical conductor having at least one end of a thickness slightly greater than said distance and of a width so as to be received between said arms, each side of said crosspiece being spaced inwardly from the side of said opening adjacent thereto so that said one end of said conductor may be initially freely located in said opening in said support with the other end of said conductor spaced above said other side of said support, said conductor having sufijcient resiliency so that said one end may be longitudinally forced across said opening beneath said crosspiece in engagement with the other side of said support, so as to bias said crosspiece of said terminal away from the other side of said support, said crosspiece and said one end of said conductor having cooperable detent means which are located on said conductor and said crosspiece so as to be in alignment with each other after said forcing of said conductor to definitely locate said one end of said conductor with respect to said support, electrical contact means secured to said support so as to be engageable with said conductor upon movement of its other end, and means secured to said support for moving the other end of said connector.

8. An electrical wiring device including a support of insulating material, an electrical conducting member, means for securing one end of said conducting member to said support upon movement of said one end of said conducting member linearly in one direction over a surface on said support, an opening in said support spaced from said securing means in the path of travel of said conducting member when said conducting member is so moved, a projection on said conducting member extend ing outwardly therefrom toward said surface of said support, and said projection being located with respect to said one end of said conducting member so that it engages said opening when said conducting member is so moved so that said conducting member is aligned in a definite manner with respect to said support.

9. An electric switch comprising, an elongated support having a base and opposed side walls, an elongated resilient switch operating member adapted to be mounted between said walls, at least one of said walls having inwardly extending projections spaced apart laterally of said walls to define an opening of a size to closely receive one end of said operating member when the latter is inserted in said opening by longitudinal movement thereof, means for securing the operating member against further longitudinal movement after its aforesaid one end has been inserted in said opening, stop means for limiting movement of said operating member away from said base comprising projection and recess means on said operating member and at least one of said side walls, respectively, located so as to interfit and permit lateral movement of said operating member toward said base into the space between said side walls before the operating member is moved longitudinally to its aforesaid secured position, but said projection and recess means are out of alignnient following such longitudinal movement of the operating member.

10. An electrical wiring device including a support of insulating material having an opening therein, an elongated resilient electrical conducting member, securing means extending through said opening in said support, means on said securing means for locating a fixed portion thereof a definite distance above one surface of said support, said fixed portion of said securing means and one end of said conducting member having cooperable detent means of configuration so as to be cooperable with each other, at least one end of said conducting member being of a thickness so as to be received between the undersurface of said fixed portion and said one surface of said support upon linear movement of said one end across said opening in said support to bias said fixed portion of said securing means away from said support, said detent means being cooperable with each other upon such linear movement of said conducting member so that said con ducting member is secured longitudinally with relation to said securing means, another opening in said support spaced from first mentioned opening, a projection on said conducting member extending toward said one surface of said support having a configuration so as to be engageable with said other opening, and said projection being located with respect to said one end of said conducting member so that it engages said other opening at substantially the same time said detent means cooperate with each other when said conducting member is so moved linearly so that said conducting member is aligned laterally in a definite manner with respect to said support.

ll. An electric wiring device comprising, a support of insulating material having an opening therein, a terminal inserted in said opening from one side of the support and having a stop thereon limiting the distance it can be inserted in the opening, said terminal having a rigid portion projecting over and spaced a predetermined distance outwardly of the plane of the other side of said support when said terminal is fully inserted, an elongated resilient switch member having an end of a size to be closely received in the space between the rigid portion of the terminal and the support, and said end of the switch member being inserted between said rigid portion of said terminal and said opening to each side thereof to secure both the terminal and switch member to the support.

12. An electric switch comprising, a support, a resilient contact member secured to a portion of said support at one end thereof and having its other end normally spaced away from the support, a resilient operating member also having one end secured to said support and having another part thereof normally overlying the contact member at least at a point spaced from said one end of said contact member, a connector interposed between said members and being of a size to deflect at least one of said members from its normal position to stress the same whereby said connector is held in place by the aforesaid stress and movement of said operating member toward the contact member will move the latter toward the base, and a cooperating contact mounted on the base at a position to be engaged by said contact member when the latter is moved by the operating member toward the base.

13. An electrical wiring device comprising, a housing having a base with an arm extending laterally therefrom in one direction at opposite sides thereof, spaced portions of said base of said housing being formed to provide a pair of projections which extend laterally therefrom in said one direction and approximately transversely between the arms of said housing, an insulating support member of a size so as to be closely received between said arms of said housing and opposed surfaces of said projections so as to be supported on said base, each of said arms of said housing having at least one inwardly extending lance in engagement with a surface of said support mem- 13 bet laterally spaced in said one direction from said base so that said support member is positively secured to said base, and spaced electrical conducting means which are adapted to be connected to a source'of electrical energy secured to said support member.

14. An electrical wiring device comprising, a housing having a base with an arm extending laterally therefrom in one direction at opposite sides thereof, an insulating support member of a size so as to be closely received between said arms of said housing so as to be supported on said base, each of said arms of said housing having at least one inwardly extending lance in engagement with a surface of said support member laterally spaced in said one direction from said base so that said support member is positively secured to said base, and spaced electrical conducting means which are adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy secured to said supportmember.

15. An electric wiring device comprising, a support of insulating material having an opening therein, a terminal inserted in said opening from one side of the support and having a stop thereon limiting the distance it can be inserted in the opening, said terminal having a rigid portion projecting over and spaced a predetermined distance outwardly of the plane of the other side of said a pair of elongated resilient conductors each having one end secured to said support and its other end spaced therefrom, an elongated resilient operating lever extending along and spaced from the side of said conductors opposite from the side thereof adjacent said support, means for securing one end of said lever in fixed relationship to said support so that its other end is adapted to limit movement of the other end of said conductors away from said support, said other ends of said conductors being spaced from each other but being in substantially the same plane, an elongated insulating connector having an outwardly curved edge extending laterally across said other ends of said conductors that the conductors engage said connector only at the adjacent sides thereof, said connector being located between said other ends of said conductors and said operating lever and engaging the lever at least at laterally spaced points of the lever, cooperating means on said operating lever and said conductor for retaining said connector in the aforesaid position, spaced electrical terminals secured to said support engageable with said conductors, respectively, upon movement of said conductors theretoward, and said curved edge of said connector permitting lateral tilting movement of said connector with respect to said other ends of said conductors when said operating lever is moved by a force which causes the lever to tilt, as by a force having a point of application laterally displaced from the space between said conductors so that said conductors are always moved toward said electrical terminals substantially simultaneously irrespective of where a force is applied to the operating lever.

17. An electrical wiring device comprising, a support of insulating material having an opening therein, an electrical terminal having a pair of spaced arms and a crosspiece for connecting said arms together, said opening having a configuration so that the connected portions of said arms of said terminal may be non-rotatably received therein from one side of said support, means on said arms engageable with said one side of said support for limiting insertion thereof with said crosspiece extending substantially parallel to and a distance slightly beyond theother side of said support, a resilient-elongated electrical conductor having at least one end of a' thickness slightly greater than said distance and of a width so as to be received between said arms, each side of said crosspiece' being spaced inwardly from theside of'said opening adjacentthereto so that said one end of said conductor may be initially freely located in said opening at one side of the crosspieceywith the other end of said conductorspaced above said other side of said support, said crosspiece having at each of said sides at least one projection extending laterally away therefrom in a direction approximately opposite to that in which said arms thereof extend, said conductor having sufficient resiliency so that said one end may be longitudinally forced across said opening beneath said 'crosspiece in engagement with the other side of said support, was to bias said crosspiece of said terminal away :from the other side of said support, said support having another opening therein spaced from and identical to said first mentioned opening therein, another electrical terminal identical to said first mentioned terminal located in said other opening in the same manner as said first mentioned terminal is located in said first mentioned opening, the projections on said other terminal being bent to engage the other side of said support adjacent said other opening to secure said other terminal thereto, said conductor having its other end spaced from said other terminal, and means secured to said support for moving said other end of said connector into electrical engagement with said other terminal.

18. An electrical wiring device comprising, a base with an arm extending laterally therefrom in one direction at opposite sides thereof, an insulating support secured to said base on the same side from which said arms extend, an elongated resilient conductor having one end secured to said support and its other end normally laterally spaced therefrom in said one direction, an opening in said conductor adjacent its said other end thereof, an insulating connector having opposed projections extending therefrom one of which is of a size so as to be insertable in said opening in said conductor so that said connector is supported by said conductor and extends laterally therefrom in said one direction, each of said arms of said base having inwardly extending laterally spaced supporting means, an elongated resilient operating lever having a portion of a width so as to be insertable longitudinally between each of said supporting means simultaneously, the surface of said lever adjacent said conductor being engageable with the other projection of said connector during such longitudinal insertion to stress the conductor so that said conductor biases the connector toward said lever, an opening in said lever, means on said lever responsive to such insertion to automatically lock said lever longitudinally in a predetermined position with respect to said base so that said portion thereof is secured to said arms and so that remote portions thereof are movable with respect to said housing, and said opening in said lever being located so that upon said locking of said lever the other projection of the connector will enter said opening in said lever, so that said conductor will be moved in response to movement of said lever theretoward.

19. An electrical wiring device comprising, a base with an arm extending laterally therefrom in one direction at opposite sides thereof, an insulating support secured to said base on the same side from which said arms extend, an electrical terminal, said support having an opening therein for receiving said terminal therein from one side of said support, means on said terminal for 10- cating a portion thereof a definite distance from the other side of said support, said portion of said terminal extending across said opening with the sides thereof being spaced inwardly from the adjacent side of said opening, an elongated resilient conductor having at least one end of a thickness so as to be insertable between said portion of said terminal and said other side of said support upon longitudinal movement thereof across said opening to bias said portion away from said support, said conductor having its other end normally laterally spaced in said one direction from said support, an opening in the conductor adjacent said other end thereof, an insulating connector having opposed projections extending therefrom, one of which is of a size so as to be insertable in said opening in said conductor so that said connector is supported by said conductor and extends laterally therefrom insaid one direction, each of said arms of said base having inwardly extending laterally spaced supporting means, an elongated resilient operating lever having a portion of a width so as to be insertable longitudinally between each of said supporting means simultaneously, said lever having a surface adjacent said conductor which is engageable with the other projection of said connector during such longitudinal insertion so that said conductor is moved toward said support to be stressed, an opening in said lever, means on said lever responsive to such insertion to automatically lock said lever longitudinally in a predetermined position with respect to said base so that said portion thereof is secured to said arms thereof and so that remote portions thereof are movable with respect to said base, and said opening in said lever being located so that upon said locking of said lever said conductor biases said connector toward said lever so that the other projection thereof enters said opening in said lever so that said conductor is moved in response to movement of said lever theretoward.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,516,572 Heller July 25, 1950 2,627,567 Bell Feb. 3, 1953 2,647,962 Batcheller Aug. 4, 1953 

